EAST GREENWICH TWP. — The Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office has recommended that the township’s budgeting practices under former Mayor Fred Grant's administration be investigated by a state agency regarding possible misappropriation of funds in the construction of a public works garage and public water well.

The prosecutor’s office has been investigating the matter for the past few months. In a letter to current Mayor Dale Archer, Prosecutor Sean Dalton said there was not sufficient evidence of criminal wrongdoing, but that the Department of Community Affairs, Division of Local Government Services should look into the matter.

These allegations stem from bond monies that were allocated to the Well No. 4 construction project, but actually used in the building of a new public works garage.

In the transaction audit trail of the Well No. 4 project, which was obtained by an Open Public Records Act request, at least three items were listed as public works facility expenses: a garage contractor at $84 and two public works facility electricity expenses for $35,907 and $18,692, respectively.

Invoices from Kelly Electric, a company based in West Deptford, are dated Nov. 9, 2011, and list electric work to be done at the public works garage that was being built at the time. However, the money for this work allegedly came out of the bond funds allocated for Public Well No. 4, a separate project with separate bonds.

Archer read an open letter to the public at Tuesday night’s committee meeting regarding the investigations, the allegations and how the current committee will work with those looking into the matter.

“For several months, the Prosecutor’s Office has been investigating former Mayor of East Greenwich, Fred Grant, for misallocation of funds,” Archer said. “Allegedly Mr. Grant utilized his office, power and influence over professionals, contractors and Township employees in the misallocation of funds for the construction of the Public Works garage and the Well-Pump House #4.”

He said he has already been interviewed by the Prosecutor’s Office and plans to continue to work with the DCA/DLGS in the future.

“The committee needs to ensure our finance capabilities cannot be compromised going forward, to include the ability to mislead or misrepresent the truth to our residents,” he said.

Grant, a Democrat, served as mayor of East Greenwich from 2008 through December of last year. He opted not to run for re-election in November after a troubling year that included political fighting with other members of committee, a driving while intoxicated charge in the township and ethical questions regarding laying off police officers and other employees.

According to Grant, the allegations of money mismanagement are unfounded and nothing more than a personal attack from someone with whom he has had previous altercations.

"It's a personal attack against Fred Grant. Dale Archer has spent an entire year trying to make me out to be a crooked person," Grant said. "I did nothing but serve the people the best I could. It's unfortunate for the residents, but this is politics at its worst."